Downtown Publix opening Nov. 1
First shopping to open in First Street Village
BY _PETE SKIBA Florida Weekly Correspondent

COURTESY PHOTO An artist's rendering of the commercial arcade below offices and condominiums at First Street Village in dowmtown Fort Myers.

Call 93-year-old June Johnson one happy woman - she gets her own Publix supermarket in November.

Johnson lives on Clifford Street across from First Street Village where Publix supermarkets plans to open one of its stores Nov. 1.

"I don't have to drive anymore. I don't have to call my daughter to take me shopping," Johnson said. "I am so glad all I have to do is walk across the street to shop at Publix, get my hair done and go to a restaurant. It is wonderful."

Plans call for a Starbucks, First Watch Restaurant, Dagwood Deli, a beauty salon, drycleaner and other retail shops to join the Publix in an easy walk from the neighborhood.

The three-block development will add another 55,000 square feet of retail development and five $400,000 townhomes by the end of the year.

The 39,000-square-foot Publix backing on McGregor Boulevard will be one of two new-style supermarkets opening in Lee County. The other, a 45,000-square-foot model plans to open in Cape Coral on Oct. 25 at 2481 N. Del Prado Boulevard.

PHOTO PETE SKIBA FLORIDA WEEKLY Publix plans to close its 1950s strip-mall-style store at 3255 Cleveland Ave. on Oct. 31 and open this new facility othe next day, Nov. 1.

The stores have the Florida-Mediterranean stucco over block architecture with added trim making them less angular and more inviting than a strip-mall store.

"This is a new design for us," said Shannon Patten, Publix spokeswoman. "The colors will be burgundy and hunter green. There will be a big circular customer service desk at the entrance and we'll have what is called radial shelving."

Radial shelving allows for the healthy and organic products to stand out on the shelf, which sticks out in a bow to the shopper.

"Instead of having our Greenwise (organic) products in a separate section, we are integrating them throughout the new stores," Patten said. "This way a shopper can see them next to the other products while shopping."

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The healthy emphasis does not mean the chain plans to close its bakery.

"We will have our fabulous decadent deserts in our bakery department," Patten said. "Our customers will find all the wonderful Publix fresh seafood, meats and produce departments they are used to."

At least one local restaurant owner has hopes the Publix will attract attention and the all important customer traffic to the area.

"The Publix should bring people into the area," said Buzz Carocci, owner of Babbaloo's Sub & Pub at 2150 West First St. "If the condos fill up that could be a really good thing too."

Publix plans to close its 1950s stripmall style store at 3255 Cleveland Ave. Oct. 31. When the First Street Village store opens at 8 a.m. the next day it will be less than two miles or five minutes away from the closed store.

The about 130 employees from the closed store, plan to make up the staff at the new store.

Plans call for plenty of homes, offices and shops to move in the Cameratta Properties development after the Publix opens. A 98-condominium building with retail shops and indoor parking is set to begin in December. Six months later another 98-condo building will start construction.

COURTESY PHOTO An artist's rendering of First Steet Village. When complete, it will feature 360 condominiums, 100,000 square feet of restaurants and shops and 40,000 square feet of office space. The new Publix is at the bottom of the rendering.

Condominiums in the Mediterraneanstyle buildings range from $289,900 to $600,000. The final phase plans for the $250 million development to erect a seven-story building with nearly 200 units, along with bowling alleys, virtual golf, a running track, a music studio and lounge areas.

When complete, First Street Village will feature 360 condominiums, 100,000 square feet of restaurants and shops and 40,000 square feet of office space.